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RICOCHET Monthly newsletter of VVAA Sunshine Coast Sub -Branch Inc., OCTOBER 2020
OUR MISSION: To assist ALL veterans and their dependents in all matters relating to their health, welfare and well-being.
Our website: www.vietnamvetssc.org.au
Email: [email protected] Editor: [email protected]
General information Page 2.
Veterans & Families Counselling
OPEN ARMS
1800 011 046
The Australian Defence Force has
around 2500 personnel deployed as
part of Operation COVID-19 Assist
(as at 5 October).
Across Australia, Victoria has 694
deployed, New South Wales 685,
Queensland 442, Western Australia
188, South Australia 182, Northern
Territory 128 and Australian Capital
Territory 8.
In Queensland, 349 ADF person-
nel were supporting quarantine com-
pliance management efforts, including
at airports and hotels (A number of
personnel were supporting state po-
lice with Queensland border controls,
but were being withdrawn).
Similar support roles are being un-
dertaken in other states and the terri-
tories.
The ADF itself was managing 91
cases among its personnel in Austral-
ia and overseas. All have recovered.
Additionally, the ADF:
Has established the three-star-led
COVID-19 task force to coordinate
Defence’s internal response to
COVID-19 and support the whole-of-
government effort;
Is supporting Emergency Manage-
ment Australia-led (EMA) planning for
the National Communicable Disease
Incidence of National Significance
Plan;
Is supporting the Department of
Health with logistics and specialist
staff;
Has been supplying clinical and
epidemiological support to the De-
partment of Health National Incident
Room since early February; and
Twenty ADF and Defence APS
personnel are embedded in various
Australian Government agencies, in-
cluding the Department of Home Af-
fairs and Services Australia.
In other ADF news, the Federal
Government announced $67 million in
initiatives for the Army Reserve.
This includes: Additional reserve
days to provide supplementary em-
ployment for up to 21,000 existing
Reservists; an additional 25,000 re-
serve days to help recruit up to 500
additional ADF Reservists; and an
overall increase of up to 210,000 in
the total reserve days for this financial
year.
The government believes this will
provide part-time employment oppor-
tunities across Australia.
TROOPS from 3 Brigade arrive by
RAAF KC-30A at Avalon to under-
take COVID-19 response duties.—
photos and story, ADF sources.
ADF helps out across the nation
INSIDE: Battle of Britain; facing ghosts in Hanoi; diving heroes.
RICOCHET— Monthly newsletter of Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Sunshine Coast, OCTOBER 2020 2
OUR MISSION: To assist all veterans and their dependents in all matters relating to their health, welfare and well-being.
VIETNAM VETERANS
ASSOCIATION
SUNSHINE COAST
SUB-BRANCH Inc.
PATRON: Laurie Drinkwater
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
President Michael Howe JP (Qual)
Senior V/President Garry King
Junior V/President Gordon Hall
Secretary (Acting) Garry King/ Mick Howe
Treasurer Glen Preston
Committee Members:
Pieter Reus (Membership)
Kerry White (Ricochet Editor)
John Cunnington (VV Day)
Athol Johnson (Merchandise)
Chris Wessels (Office Manager)
Col Parkin
John Huxham
Bob Johnson
OFFICE BEARERS
Digger Hat Jewellery Scotty NFI
Thursday Breakfast Geoff Jewell
Honorary Lawyer Noel Woodall
Honorary Chaplain Arthur Fry
Auditor Frank Redpath
Advertising/Marketing Michael Sheahan
Info. Tech. Manager Mike Holt
Grants Officer Michael Howe
ADVOCATE TEAM
Compensation Advocates
Helena Smith JP (Qual) 0439241442
Hospital Visitation
Alec Chesters 54761594
Mentor/Assessor
Helena Smith 0439241442
Suicide Prevention
Helena Smith 0439241442
Air Force Association (vacant)
Tracker Dogs Assn. Ian Atkinson
Mooloolaba Surf Club Kevin Lynch
Buderim Hospital Alec Chesters
Army Cadets/ARES Squizzy Taylor
Air Force Cadets (vacant)
Naval Cadets Carl Britz
VVAASC SUB-BRANCH
DROP-IN-CENTRE
Located at the rear of the Library Complex Administration Building
(upstairs) , Cnr Sixth Avenue and Beach Parade, Cotton Tree.
Office Phone 54794552 Fax. 5479 4558. E–mail: [email protected]
OFFICE HOURS: As part of the response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, the Drop-In Centre will open only on Wednesday from 1000 for 2/3 hours and Thursday 0730 to 1330 (subject to change any time).
Department of
Veterans’ Affairs
Veterans’ Advice Network (VAN) 129 Horton Parade, Maroochydore, QLD 4558.
Free call to Brisbane Office 1800 555 254
DISCLAIMER: The committee of Vietnam Veteran Association of Australia Sunshine Coast Sub-Branch Inc. and its individual members take no responsibility for
errors, omissions or inaccuracies in this newsletter, nor accept liability for any loss or damage suffered directly or indirectly from the use of information contained in
this newsletter, and do not warrant that opinions published in this newsletter are necessarily the opinions held by the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia, this
Sub-branch or the Sub-branch Committee, including individual members.
Veterans & Families Counselling
OPEN ARMS
24 Hour Crisis Line Toll Free
1800 011 046 PO Box 1797, (or 129 Horton Parade) Maroochydore, QLD, 4558
This service provides counselling and support to all veterans of overseas conflicts. The families of Vietnam Veterans are also able to receive counselling through us. Group programmes include the Lifestyle Management Program (5 days live-in with partner) and the Heart Safe Program (12 month gym). Other therapeutic/educational groups are being planned for the Sunshine Coast.
RICOCHET— Monthly newsletter of Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Sunshine Coast, OCTOBER 2020 3
OUR MISSION: To assist all veterans and their dependents in all matters relating to their health, welfare and well-being.
The last surviving member of the crew of the legendary
Krait (pictured), which took special force members
on Operation Jaywick during World War Two, has died.
He was Able Seaman Moss Berryman, who was 96.
On possibly the most long-range and daring special
forces raid of the war, a captured Japanese motor
sampan set out from Exmouth in Western Australia
bound for Singapore on September 2, 1943, well inside
Japanese controlled waters.
When they returned nearly seven weeks later, the
crew of 14 had carried out one of the most successful
clandestine raids in Australian history.
The 68 ton Kofuku Maru had been seized by British
authorities in Singapore following Japan’s entry into the
war. In 1943 she was renamed Krait (after a small but
deadly fighting snake) and assigned to the Services
Reconnaissance Department, the parent organisation of
the famed Z Special Unit, which was responsible for
covert operations in enemy territory.
The objective of Operation Jaywick was for a group
of Australian and British Z Special Unit members to
attack Japanese shipping in Singapore using time
delayed limpet mines. The operatives and crew
included 10 sailors and four soldiers.
The expedition was led by Major Ivan Lyon of the
Gordon Highlanders who, along with Major Jock
Campbell of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, had
devised the plan in 1942 after they had escaped the
Japanese invasion of Singapore. Essential to the plan
was a vessel that could pose as a local fishing boat or
trader.
The crew hoisted the Japanese ensign on 6
September and Krait approached Lombok Strait, the
first ‘danger area’ of her voyage, just after noon on 8
September.
On the two-week voyage though Japanese-occupied
waters they flew the Japanese flag and posed as Malay
fishermen, wearing sarongs and constantly applying
foul-smelling brown dye to their skin. When,
occasionally, a Japanese float plane flew over,
members of Z Force would wave and stand in a circle
pretending to unpick fishing lines.
On 18 September Krait arrived off Singapore – which
was ablaze with lights and where the Japanese thought
themselves safe – and offloaded six commandos in
three two-man canoes. Much to their disappointment,
Berryman and a mate were told to stay behind. “Of
course, we put on a bit of a turn – ‘We’ve done all the
training, sir, why can’t we be in it?’ – and he said,
‘Nope, you two are going to be babysitters and look
after Krait’ ”.
The canoeists established a base in a cave on a
small island, and on the night of September 26 they
paddled into the harbour to attached limpet mines to
seven vessels, sinking or damaging 37,000 tons of
shipping.
The Krait is at Australia's National Maritime Museum in Sydney. – from the Royal Australian Navy website and The
Telegraph (Sydney).
Last of legendary Krait crew dies
REMEMBERING WHEN ….
BACK IN Vi-
etnam (from
left) Aussies
about to leave
the country
on HMAS
Sydney in
1972; Ordi-
nary Seaman
on HMAS
Brisbane car-
rying shells,
and RAAF Base Support Flight cooks on the job. – photos Australian War Memorial, more information on DVA Anzac Portal (Vietnam: our war - our peace). (This space was reserved for last-minute photos from the resumed Thursday breakfast that did not happen.—Editor.)
RICOCHET— Monthly newsletter of Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Sunshine Coast, OCTOBER 2020 4
OUR MISSION: To assist all veterans and their dependents in all matters relating to their health, welfare and well-being.
From the President
Hi Everyone,
I sincerely hope that you and yours are fit and well during these hectic times. Not much news I'm afraid. Owing to the situation we currently find our-selves in there is very little happening.
We are still not allowed to hold our monthly meetings at the library and if and when we get to have some form of Com-mittee meeting, it's been held in the bar area of a licensed premises. Everyone seems a little frustrated, but, what can you do?
A bit of bad news concerning our old-est member; Chips Ross. Poor old 'Chips' has found himself to be admitted into the St. Vincent’s Hospital at Chermside. (He is pictured during the recent service at the National Dog Me-morial on Vietnam Veterans Day.)
During a very recent colonoscopy, cancer was detected within his bowel which has resulted in immediate sur-gery. He has had a portion of his bowel removed and will shortly be transferred to a Rehabilitation Centre for recovery. As he is/was not allowed visitors, I have been in touch with him via telephone and I can tell you, he is not happy!
He tells me that he thought he would be up and around the place by now and is frustrated that he still remains in hos-pital. He has asked me to inform you all that he can now be known as ' A RAEME WIMP.'
On our committee's behalf, Scotty has just completed a thorough inventory of our assets held at the Alaric Homestead.
A request from Ted Robinson to have the 'Cold Room' at Alaric donated to his new venture at Adavale, (The Adavale Services Escape) was approved at a re-cent committee meeting and consequent-ly, Ted is currently in the act of relocating this item of property to its new location.
At our next committee meeting, we will discuss what other assets at Alaric are worth retaining at this time and what items can be donated to similar organisa-tions that are 'not for profit' and support military and ex-military personnel.
We still have no word on when we can re-commence the Mooloolaba Breakfast mornings at the Surf Club, but our break-fast committee continues with their efforts in attempting to resume that activity at the very earliest opportunity.
Please take care of yourselves and remember, if anyone has any good ideas on how we can advance our association, then please let us know.
Best Regards,
Mick Howe,
President.
RICOCHET— Monthly newsletter of Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Sunshine Coast, OCTOBER 2020 5
OUR MISSION: To assist all veterans and their dependents in all matters relating to their health, welfare and well-being.
FROM THE ACTING SECRETARY
Well here we are about 12 weeks
out from Xmas and the world contin-
ues to evolve around us as it has
most of the year of 2020.
Covid-19 continues to define our
day-to-day lives and restrictions
have now become a normal behav-
iour for us all.
For those that aren't aware, our
senior member Brian (Chips) Ross
has recently had surgery for a bout
of bowel cancer. From all reports,
surgery went well and he moves to
rehab this week.
Mick Howe has spoken to him a
couple of times and he seemed frus-
trated because his freedom had
been taken from him.
Mick explained that because he
was RAEME, his recovery will be
slow, and if he had been RAINF, he
would probably be home by now!
Several senior committee mem-
bers have been discussing the re-
turn of distribution of hard copies of
Ricochet.
Options will be decided at a later
date when full meetings are appro-
priate and we have all committee
members present. Your thoughts are
welcome.
Editor Kerry White still seeks ma-
terial of interest for inclusion in Rico-
chet; keep them coming.
The DIC continues to open on
Wednesday attended by Crissy
Wessels and Margo Christie and, on
Thursday by Mick Howe for any le-
gal papers, etc. to be attended to.
Still no word on Sausage Sizzles
at this stage, but we have noticed
that Bunnings continue to host same
on weekends only.
No clearance as yet for Thursday
Brekky however Riflemen’s lunch is
again up and running and what bet-
ter way to mix with like-minded ma-
tes at Mooloolaba surf club from
noon, first Friday of each month.
See you there.
That’s about all for me this month.
On closing, spare a thought for rela-
tives and friends still locked away in
Victoria as you now start enjoying
our spring and warmer beach weath-
er.
Stay safe and keep well.
Kind regards
Garry King (Only acting secretary)
(LATE MAIL: Breakfasts were to be back on from 1 October, but it was cancelled at last minute. – Editor).
GARRY KING resting in Vietnam (1
ARU, 3 RAR 1968).
RICOCHET— Monthly newsletter of Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Sunshine Coast, OCTOBER 2020 6
OUR MISSION: To assist all veterans and their dependents in all matters relating to their health, welfare and well-being.
FROM THE EDITOR
RECENTLY, while reflecting on this tumultu-
ous COVID-19 year, Charles Dickens’ opening
words in Tale of Two Cities came to mind.
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of
times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age
of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was
the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of
light, it was the season of darkness, it was the
spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”
The story, published in 1859, was set in
the French Revolution in the previous century.
The words could be applied to many signif-
icant events in history – wars and revolutions,
disease and pestilence … depending on hu-
manity’s reaction to them. The Vietnam War,
of course, has a poignancy for our association
and its members. Though not universal, it cer-
tainly touched many people in many countries
in many different ways.
One of those was, of course, United States
Defence Secretary Robert McNamara, whose
decisions and/or recommendations guided
much of the war. At the War Remnants Muse-
um in Saigon a few years ago, I read his words
(in part): “Yet we were wrong, terribly wrong.
We owe it to future generations to explain
why”. The words
added to a traumatic
experience.
McNamara went
to Hanoi in the 1990s
to meet with govern-
ment officials in re-
flecting on the war,
apparently not suc-
cessful in putting to
rest the ghosts. So, in this issue of Ricochet,
we begin a serialisation of a New York Times
article on that visit. Interesting, to say the least.
Also reflecting “the best of times” and “the
worst of times …” is the family photo on this
page: A composite portrait of Mary and Henry
Hutchins, of Woorinen North, Victoria, and
seven enlisted sons (from left, back row) Da-
vid, Malcolm, Eric, Fred, William and Ivan;
(front row) Mary, Alan and Henry. The seven
brothers enlisted and served overseas during
the Second World War. Only three – Ivan,
Malcolm and William – survived.
This has been a tough year to varying de-
grees for many in all walks of life, but so were
the days and nights of war, particularly for
families like the Hutchins who had the best of
times in welcoming home three sons, but the
worst in accepting that four did not return.
Best
Regards,
Kerry White
Editor
RICOCHET— Monthly newsletter of Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Sunshine Coast, OCTOBER 2020 7
OUR MISSION: To assist all veterans and their dependents in all matters relating to their health, welfare and well-being.
When travel is back on your agenda,
Ricochet recommends
Cassie McCarthy of Travel Associates, supporters of the Vietnam Veterans’ Association
Sunshine Coast.
Booking specialists for cruise, tour and package holidays. For all travel inquiries.
CONTACT CASSIE MCCARTHY
Call or text 0422235510
Email:
Full log-book servicing, roadworthy certificates, air-con repairs and servicing, brakes, clutches and all mechanical repairs.
Super 8 camera wanted Anyone happen to have a Super 8mm camera like this one they do not want, or know where one is available? Our keen member, Scotty, is after one for a mate. Super 8s were first made by Kodak in the 1950s and fell out of fashion after video cameras came in. Contact Scotty through the office.
‘So much owed to so few’ Battle of Britain Day is commemorated
on September 15 every year,
remembering the day the Luftwaffe
launched the largest bombing attack,
forcing the entire RAF to engage in the
defence of London. This day resulted in
a decisive British victory and was the
turning point of the air war.
The Battle of Britain officially lasted
from 10 July to 31 October 1940. The battle began with German attacks on coastal convoys in an effort to draw RAF fighters into battle. These attacks were followed by brief and unsuccessful raids on British radar installations and raids
against RAF airfields in southern and
south-western England. Luftwaffe
bombers suffered heavy losses to
RAF fighters but fighter losses were
about even.
Twenty-five Australians were
considered eligible for the Battle of
Britain clasp to the 1939–45 Star.
Others flew during the battle with RAF
Bomber Command and Coastal
Command but the total number
involved in the battle did not exceed
35.
Eight Australians became air aces
by shooting down five or more enemy
aircraft. Pat Hughes from Cooma had
14 successes, which puts him among
the ten leading aces of the battle.
Of the total of 537 RAF Fighter
Command pilots who died at least ten
were Australian. Another four who
were enlisted in the Royal Australian
Air Force also died.
Prime Minister Churchill praised
the pilots of the Battle of Britain with
his famous words, "Never in the field
of human conflict has so much been
owed by so many to so few."
─ From Australian Military History. SPITFIRES on a mission, World War Two. — from The Spitfire Site.
RICOCHET— Monthly newsletter of Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Sunshine Coast, OCTOBER 2020 8
OUR MISSION: To assist all veterans and their dependents in all matters relating to their health, welfare and well-being.
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Clearance Diving Team
3 (CDT3) was awarded the US Navy Meritorious Unit
Commendation for conspicuous service on September
23,1969.
CDT3 was an elite group of 49 officers in the Vietnam
War trained in explosive ordnance disposal who embodied
the unit’s motto ‘United and Undaunted’. The first contingent
(pictured) of six personnel arrived in Vietnam on 6 Febru-
ary 1967 and commenced operations to prevent enemy sabo-
tage of friendly during Operation STABLEDOOR in Vung Tau.
During this operation, the men successfully defused a
number of devices planted by Viet Cong sappers, and also
participated in clearances of Viet Cong tunnel complexes for
weapons caches. For their service, the first contingent was
recognised with the US Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
for conspicuous service from February19 to June 30, 1967.
In August 1970 the team was relieved by South Vietnam-
ese Navy personnel. During the three and half years on Oper-
ation STABLEDOOR, CDT3 searched 7441 ships. In total,
eight contingents served in CDT3 for six to seven month rota-
tions across four years of service.
The only fatal casualty suffered by CDT3 was a young
sailor who was killed during a motor vehicle accident whilst
on exchange with an American unit in Cam Ranh Bay.
CDT3 was disbanded in 1971 and was not reformed until
1991. Their legacy was carried on by their successors, who
would go on to serve in the Gulf War and the 2003 Iraq Cam-
paign.
Navy divers go
down in history
RICOCHET— Monthly newsletter of Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Sunshine Coast, OCTOBER 2020 9
OUR MISSION: To assist all veterans and their dependents in all matters relating to their health, welfare and well-being.
AN Australian Ar-my soldier (above) from 2nd Comman-do Regiment at Av-alon Airport, Victo-ria, during counter-terrorism training; and Private Ash-leigh Deguara (right) in the Middle East protecting her fellow soldiers as a Guardian Angel ─ the Force Protec-tion Element that watch over train-ers, mentors and advisers in the Mid-dle East.. Inset above right: A 4 RAR, B Company, Digger in South Vi-etnam 1971. — ADF photos.
MODERN
ARMY
STYLE
LAST month marked the anniversary of one of Australia’s most famous
photographers and war correspondents, Damien Parer (pictured right).
On September 17, 1944 at Palau on the island of Peleliu he was killed by
a burst of Japanese gun fire, reportedly trying to get shots of the faces of
the advancing soldiers at the time of his death. He also filmed in Greece,
Syria, Tobruk and New Guinea and was cinematographer for Australia ’s
first Oscar winning film ‘Kokoda Front Line’.— AWM photo.
Famous cinematographer a front-line hero
RICOCHET— Monthly newsletter of Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Sunshine Coast, OCTOBER 2020 10
OUR MISSION: To assist all veterans and their dependents in all matters relating to their health, welfare and well-being.
A PICTURE that says it all … published by the ADF to mark National Peacekeepers and Peacemakers Day on September 14. In September 1947, the first Austral-ian peacekeepers arrived in the Netherlands East In-dies to begin work as unarmed military observers. Peacekeepers and peacemakers have played, and continue to play, a critical role in providing support and assistance to victims of conflict, in often unstable and dangerous locations. Their work provides shelter, medical assistance and security to those who need it most. This photo could be anywhere … a Digger and a local somewhere in the world who want peace. – ADF information and photo.
THANKS PEACEKEEPERS
BRAVER THAN THE BRAVE SURELY a rare moment (right): A group of Victoria
Cross recipients stands behind the grave of Corporal
Edmondson VC on April 25, 1953, in the Tobruk War
Cemetery, Libya: (from left) Pte Frank Partridge, Pte
Edward Kenna, Sgt Jack Hinton, Pte Richard Kelliher
and Sgt Reg Rattey, all Australian except Sgt Hinton, a
New Zealander. They were on their way to England to
attend the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Cpl Ed-
monson was awarded a VC posthumously in 1941 for
outstanding resolution, leadership and conspicuous
bravery at Tobruk. – photo from AWM P01895.001.
RICOCHET— Monthly newsletter of Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Sunshine Coast, OCTOBER 2020 11
OUR MISSION: To assist all veterans and their dependents in all matters relating to their health, welfare and well-being.
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we pick up and return
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New full or partial dentures Same day reline service
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07 5444 61161/130 Brisbane Rd, MooloolabaE: [email protected]
W: www.advanceoraldentures.com.au
Advance Oral Denture Clinic
Fancy a walk along a track that takes
in an old railway tunnel — if you have
not done it, that is what awaits on a
walk near Landsborough.
Dularcha Rail Tunnel (pictured) is
one of the many places of interest fea-
tured in a new Cultural Heritage Dis-
covery Guide just released by Sun-
shine Coast Council.
Printed copies of the guide are
available from museums, libraries,
council administration buildings and
visitor information centres and an elec-
tronic version is available on the
Council app under ‘Things to Do’.
Council believes the Discovery
Guide will help people explore and
discover our region’s history and natu-
ral heritage including the cultural herit-
age of our Traditional Custodians.
“This is the Year of Indigenous
Tourism and what better time to
launch a new Discovery Guide which
acknowledges the important role Tra-
ditional Custodians have played and
continue to play,” council said.
“If you love walking, take a hike to
one of the Sunshine Coast’s oldest
train tunnels in Dularcha National Park
in Landsborough; if you love lace,
drive north to Kenilworth for a tour of
the museum; and if you’d like to see
the most authentic early settler house
with an intact collection, visit Bankfoot
House Heritage Precinct in the Glass
House Mountains.”
The guide also features community museums, run by dedicated volun-teers, that share stories binding the region together.
The Discovery Guide was funded by the Heritage Levy which aims to protect cultural places, raise aware-ness of the value of local heritage and celebrate the cultural heritage of the Sunshine Coast.
Find out more here: https://
heritage.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/Places/Heritage-Discover-Guide
Plenty to do on the Sunshine Coast
RICOCHET— Monthly newsletter of Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Sunshine Coast, OCTOBER 2020 12
OUR MISSION: To assist all veterans and their dependents in all matters relating to their health, welfare and well-being.
JC’s BEFUDDLEMENT PAGE ….
RICOCHET— Monthly newsletter of Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Sunshine Coast, OCTOBER 2020 13
OUR MISSION: To assist all veterans and their dependents in all matters relating to their health, welfare and well-being.
AT THE September Riflemen’s Lunch
were (photo at right, from left) Mike
Sheahan, Peter Rogers, Hayden Ken-
ny, Garry King, Bill Ochman in back-
ground; (above) Alan Chandler and
Kevin Lynch. — they served together
in 4Plt, B Coy, 9 RAR in Vietnam.
Veterans who need medical treatment
in Brisbane can stay in great accom-
modation for a small tariff near the city.
Accommodation is available for $20
a night – and that includes dinner – at
Angus House for veterans who need
to stay in Brisbane while receiving
medical treatment.
Angus House is operated by RSL
Queensland and run by manager
Michelle Byrne. Contact Michelle if you
need further information.
• Address: 53-55 Bayliss Street,
Toowong
• Close to Toowong Private Hos-
pital and Wesley Hospital
• Stay with other members of the
veteran/defence community
• Staff can sometimes offer
transport to nearby hospitals
• 11 bedrooms, four shared bath-
rooms, TV rooms, dining room, kitchen
and laundry.
More information is also available
at rslqld.org/find-help/angus-house
Michelle can be contacted by phon-ing 0418 721 300 or by email to [email protected]
A place to stay
RICOCHET— Monthly newsletter of Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Sunshine Coast, OCTOBER 2020 14
OUR MISSION: To assist all veterans and their dependents in all matters relating to their health, welfare and well-being.
The following article by David K. Shipler is about a visit Robert McNamara made to North Vietnam after the Vi-etnam War. During the war McNamara was United States Secretary of Defense (1961 - 1968) under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. The article titled ‘Robert McNamara and the Ghosts of Vietnam’ was in The New York Times on 10 August 1997. NOT LONG after dawn, Robert S. McNamara (pictured years earlier) set out on a rapid walk through the half-light of Hanoi. A steamy drizzle soon soaked his dark blue jogging shorts and shirt. He stared intently ahead, barely glancing at the Viet-namese along the way as he marched in a loping stride through the city he ordered bombed some 30 years ago. He walked too quickly for the beggars or the barefoot children selling postcards to keep up with him. He did not seem to notice a boy hawk-ing copies of ''The Quiet American.'' He raced across cur-rents of whizzing motorbikes and bicycles laden with im-possibly huge bundles of fruit and shoes and large tin box-es, balanced as ingeniously as weapons had once been on the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
Peasant women in conical hats crisscrossed in front of him, moving gracefully beneath shoulder poles slung
heavily with round baskets of bananas and litchi nuts. One woman squatting at the curb made an enticing gesture toward her pile of reddish litchis but got no reaction. He did not look into the faces of the people. He did not linger to gaze at their colorful wares. He was driven by another agenda, a mission he talked about incessantly as he walked.
In a few hours on this Friday in June, one of the more unusual efforts in the history of warfare was to begin. McNamara, three oth-er former American officials, two retired gen-erals and six historians would sit down with former North Vietnamese officials, diplo-mats, generals and scholars led by Nguyen Co Thach, a courtly former Foreign Minister, for a four-day discussion of what Americans call the Vietnam War and Vietnamese call the American War. Their main focus would be defined by McNamara's growing convic-
tion that ''each of us could have achieved our geopolitical objectives without that terrible loss of life,'' that both sides missed concrete chances to end the fighting during his tenure as Secretary of Defense from 1961 to 1968.
The thesis amounted to a confession of profound error, and this return to Vietnam -- McNamara's second since the war -- seemed likely to be a lonely journey into a regretful past.
continued opposite.
McNamara and his band in North Vietnam
RICOCHET— Monthly newsletter of Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Sunshine Coast, OCTOBER 2020 15
OUR MISSION: To assist all veterans and their dependents in all matters relating to their health, welfare and well-being.
From opposite page. Despite his coterie of aging officials and younger his-
torians, it was he above all who bore the burden. The others in the delegation had not conceived the war; they had worked at its margins, had followed orders or had tried to negotiate its end. With most of the war's key ar-chitects dead or declining to attend, McNamara stood as the only senior policy maker of the era to visit Hanoi and admit that the war should not have been fought and could not have been won. He wanted it studied as a cautionary tale for the next century. ''Human beings have to examine their failures,'' he declared. ''We've got to acquaint people with how dangerous it is for political leaders to behave the way we did.''
If penance drove him to Hanoi, it was carefully con-cealed. The way McNamara examined his failure in Vi-etnam was to intellectualize it, diagnose it, pinpoint the variables that might have been revised. He was hoping that the Vietnamese would do the same, but they would frustrate him again, as they had 30 years before.
Robert McNamara believes that American leaders acted out of honorable principles, as he argued in his 1995 book, In Retrospect: The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam. ''Yet we were wrong, terribly wrong,'' he wrote. ''We owe it to future gen-erations to explain why.'' This admission, which generated a mixture of admiration and vilifi-cation among Americans, earned him an enthusiastic welcome when he first visited Hanoi in November 1995. The quotation and his book are dis-played in a museum in Ho Chi Minh City that features photo-graphs of Americans torturing Vietnamese.
Now he had returned to Vietnam, not so much to test his thesis as to prove it. The title of the conference was a question: ''Missed Opportunities?'' But there was no question mark for McNamara. He was eager for Thach and the other Vietnamese to confirm what he believed he knew. The war had resulted in the reunified, Communist Vietnam that Hanoi had desired. But Vietnam had not become the agent of Soviet and Chinese Communism that Washington had feared; Communism in Indochina had not toppled the dominoes of Thailand, Malaysia, In-donesia and other Asian countries, as Dwight D. Eisen-hower had wrongly predicted when he relinquished the Oval Office to John F. Kennedy in 1961. At that early stage, before the arrival of American combat troops in 1965, could the same ends have been realized at the bargaining table as, later, on the battlefield? Why did Ha-noi repeatedly rebuff secret American attempts to open peace talks from 1965 to 1968? Why did the bombing of North Vietnam fail to force capitulation? And a key issue for McNamara:
‘Missed opportunities’ ''If the United States had invaded North Vietnam, would
the Chinese have intervened?'' he asked. He had opposed the military chiefs' recommendations of an invasion be-cause he feared China would enter the war; from the Viet-namese he would now seek vindication for that assess-ment.
McNamara talked as he walked briskly around the Lake of the Restored Sword at the heart of Hanoi. Had he known the legend of this lake in the 1960's, he would have under-stood the anti-Chinese thrust of Vietnam's historical devo-tion to independence. The story goes that in the 15th cen-tury, when the Ming Dynasty ruled Vietnam, a fisherman named Le Loi found in his net a magical sword that em-powered him to lead his people in a 10-year struggle that drove the Chinese out in 1428. Le Loi became Emperor. As he then offered gratitude to the spirit of the lake, a giant golden tortoise snatched the sword and restored it to the depths.
Much of what the Vietnamese would try to explain to the Americans in the coming days touched on this mystical passion to be rid of foreign domination, whether by the Chi-nese for a thousand years, the French colonialists for more than a century, the Japanese during World War II or the Americans after the French defeat in 1954.
Continued next issue. Robert Strange McNamara, who was born on June 9, 1916 in San Francisco, died on July 6, 2009 in Washington DC. His books includ-ed In Retrospect: The Tragedy and Lessons of Vi-etnam (1995). Your comments are welcome.
Le Loi
memorial,
Hanoi
Veterans & Families Counselling
OPEN ARMS
1800 011 046
RICOCHET— Monthly newsletter of Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Sunshine Coast, OCTOBER 2020 16
OUR MISSION: To assist all veterans and their dependents in all matters relating to their health, welfare and well-being.
OSTEOPOROSIS – INFORMATION, CLASSIFICATION AND EXERCISE:
Osteoporosis is a worldwide disease and characterised by reduction of bone mass resulting in bone fragility and increased fracture risk (Akkawi & Zmerly 2018).Approximately two thirds of Australians aged 50 years and over suffer with low bone density (the most common group being post-menopausal women).
However, research states that 30% of elderly males in Australia are diagnosed with Osteoporosis. In 2013, there were approximately 400 osteoporotic fractures per day in Australia, and this figure is expected to increase to 500 per day by 2022. The cost of osteoporosis and osteopenia to Australians in 2012 was approximately $2.75 billion and is expected to rise to $3.84 billion in 2022 (Beck, et al 2016).
Classification: Bone Mineral Density (BMD) is described as a T-score which represents the number of Standard Deviations (SD) by which the BMD in an individual differs from the mean value expected in young healthy individuals. The table below represents current criteria for diagnosis of osteoporosis.
World Health Organization – Criteria for diagnosis of osteoporosis (Kania et al 1994):
T-Score
Normal -1.0 and above
Osteopenia -1.0 and -2.5
Osteoporosis -2.5 and below
Severe (established) osteoporosis
-2.5 and below, plus one or more osteoporotic fracture(s)
The Role of Exercise: Previous research has shown that walking plays an important role in the prevention of osteoporosis however; more up to date research suggests that walking may be insufficient to optimize bone health and has very little effect on other fall and fracture related risk factors such as muscle mass, strength and balance (Beck, et al 2016)
Beck, et al (2016) states that an exercise program incorporating moderate to high-impact weight bearing activities, high intensity, progressive resistance training and balance forms the basis of current recommendations; for example jogging, stair climbing, tennis and basketball. Basically, any exercises that add impact to an exercise, namely, stepping, hopping and jumping are also recommended. Directional movements such as side stepping lunges and squat jumps are also recommended when safe to do so.
Consideration should also be given to the frail and elderly, who, although would most certainly benefit from a specific osteoporosis program, may have some limitations clinically which would warrant a more conservative approach with particular emphasis on balance to reduce the risk of falls (Osteoporosis Australia 2014).
The role of Vitamin D and Calcium: We should not forget the importance of vitamin D and calcium. An adequate calcium intake is considered essential, especially in post-menopausal women to retain calcium balance due to low estrogen levels. Vitamin D (obtained through the skin via sunlight), is considered important for bone health. A supplement may be prescribed to increase levels of vitamin D when exposure to sunlight is minimal (Brukner & Kahn 2009).
Conclusion: Osteoporosis is becoming more prevalent in Australia. It is not only found in post-menopausal women but also in elderly men. Exercise plays an important role in the prevention of osteoporosis and studies show exercises that increase load on the bone and incorporate balance are extremely effective. Prescribed amounts of calcium and vitamin D are also beneficial towards bone health.
For information regarding Osteoporosis or a specific exercise program contact Quantum Rehabilitation (phone 5452 7538).
Val Mitchenson – Exercise Physiologist ESSA Accredited Member Quantum Rehabilitation
(Further references were provided—Editor)
RICOCHET— Monthly newsletter of Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Sunshine Coast, OCTOBER 2020 17
OUR MISSION: To assist all veterans and their dependents in all matters relating to their health, welfare and well-being.
October Timeline: Ford Model T to Battle of Britain
1 October 1908: American Henry Ford's Model T, a
"universal car" designed for the masses, went on sale for
the first time.
1 October 1946: Twelve Nazi leaders were sentenced
to death at the International War Crimes Tribunal in Nu-
remberg, Germany.
6 October 1971: 3 Battalion, Royal Australian Regi-
ment, is airlifted onto HMAS Sydney, leaving only one bat-
talion at Nui Dat. On 7 November, that battalion, 4RAR
also moves out of Nui Dat to Vung Tau, ending Australian
combat operations in Phuoc Tuy province.
10 October 1954: Ho Chi Minh entered Hanoi, Vietnam,
after the withdrawal of French troops, in accordance with
armistice terms ending the seven-year struggle between
Communist Vietnamese and the French.
11 October 1852: Sydney University was opened to
students with Reverend Dr John Woolley as its foundation
Principal. Eighteen scholarships were funded for students
who could not afford fees. The university was first located
in the former Sydney College building and five years later
began teaching at Grose Farm, west of Sydney.
12 October 2002: About 11pm three bombs were deto-
nated in Bali, two in busy nightspots — the Sari Club and
Paddy’s Bar — and one in front of the American consu-
late. The explosions killed 202 people, 88 of whom were
Australian, and wounded hundreds more.
16 October 1943: Completion of the Burma-Thailand
railway. The railway took 12 months to build. The Japa-
nese were able to use it to supply their troops in Burma
despite the repeated destruction of bridges by Allied
bombing. More than 90,000 Asian civilians died on the
railway, as well as 16,000 POWs, of whom about 2800
were Australian.
17 October, 1917: The last railway spike was ham-
mered into place outside the tiny settlement of Ooldea in
remote South Australia to complete the Trans-Australia
Railway linking east and west. It took five years for teams
of rail workers to lay the 2.5 million hardwood sleepers
and 140,000 tonnes of rail needed to finish the 1693-
kilometre job. Five days later the first passenger train set
off from Port Augusta, arriving at Kalgoorlie 42 hours and
48 minutes later.
17-25 October 1944: The Battle of Leyte Gulf, the larg-
est naval battle in history, took place off the Philippine Is-
lands, during World War II. The battle involved 216 US
warships and 64 Japanese ships and resulted in the de-
struction of the Japanese Navy including the Japanese
battleship Musashi, one of the largest ever built.
Continued over page.
RICOCHET— Monthly newsletter of Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Sunshine Coast, OCTOBER 2020 18
OUR MISSION: To assist all veterans and their dependents in all matters relating to their health, welfare and well-being.
DO YOU NEED TO TALK ABOUT CONTINENCE ISSUES? Incontinence can be an embarrassing subject to talk about, but it should not be as one in four Australians have continence issues! (Continence Foundation of Australia) Incontinence can significantly impact your quality of life and can increase your risk of falls, but help is available. You can talk to your ActivOT OT in the privacy of your own home. Symptoms of incontinence could be any of the following: rushing to get to the toilet getting up to go to the toilet twice or more
through the night accidental leak before you get to the toilet accidental leak when you lift something
heavy or during exercise leak sometimes when you change position or when you cough and sneeze
If you experience any of these symptoms you may have bladder or bowel control issues. Talk to your GP and ask your ActivOT OT for a sample pack of continence aids to try in the privacy of your own home. Your ActivOT OT can assist you to access any eligible continence aids through the DVA RAP program. If you have no trouble with getting to the toilet on time but have shoulder pain and limited range of movement, you may have difficulty taking care of your personal hygiene. Ask your ActivOT OT if you are eligible for a bidet, that attaches to your existing toilet, through the DVA RAP program. Warm regards, Your ActivOT OT Nora Nora English Occupational Therapist M: 0435874440 E: [email protected]
Continued from previous page.
18 October 1967: Prime Minister Harold Holt announc-
es an increase of 1700 to Australia’s commitment in South
Vietnam, including a third infantry battalion.
20 October 1973: The Sydney Opera House was
opened by Queen Elizabeth II, 10 years over-
due and, at $102 million, 14 times the original
budget.
22 October 1965: A demonstration in Syd-
ney against the Vietnam War results in 65 ar-
rests.
24 October 1889: Henry Parkes delivered a
speech at the Tenterfield School of Arts on the
need for the Australian colonies to federate
into one nation. The Tenterfield Oration is sig-
nificant because, although politicians had been discussing
federation for some time, this was the first direct appeal to
the public.
24 October 1994: For the first time in 25 years, British
troops were absent from the streets of Londonderry,
Northern Ireland, following cease-fires by Irish Republican
Army (IRA) and pro-British forces.
28 October 1916: A referendum to determine public
support for conscription failed by a slim margin; a second
in December 1917 also failed (Logo pictured).
28 October 1962: The Cuban Missile Crisis
ended with the announcement by Soviet Rus-
sian leader Nikita Khrushchev that his govern-
ment was halting construction of missile bases
in Cuba and would remove the offensive mis-
siles. President Kennedy immediately accepted
and lifted the US naval blockade of Cuba.
31 October 1940: The Battle of Britain con-
cluded. Beginning on July 10, 1940, "Never in
the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many
to so few," declared Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
From http://www.vvaa.org.au/calendar.htm https://www.historyplace.com/ (illustration from Trove)
ASK YOUR ACTIVOT OT
RICOCHET— Monthly newsletter of Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Sunshine Coast, OCTOBER 2020 19
OUR MISSION: To assist all veterans and their dependents in all matters relating to their health, welfare and well-being.
‘When you’re laughing, the whole world laughs with you’
The old lady handed her Bankcard to a bank teller and
said, “I would like to withdraw $500".
The teller told her, “For withdrawals less than
$2,000, please use the ATM.” The old lady wanted to
know why
Returning her Bankcard, the teller irritably told her,
“These are the rules. Please leave if there is no other
matter. There is a line behind you.”
The old lady remained silent for a few seconds, then
handed the card back to the teller and said, “Please
help me withdraw all the money I have.”
After checking the balance, the teller was aston-
ished. She nodded her head, leaned down and re-
spectfully told her, “My apologies Ma'am, you have $35
million in your account and our bank doesn't have so
much cash currently. Could you make an appointment
and come again tomorrow?”
The old lady then asked how much she could with-
draw immediately. The teller told her any amount up to
$250,000.
"Well, please let me have $250,000 now," she said.
The teller did so quickly, then handed it charmingly and
respectfully to her elderly
client.
The old lady put $500 in
her bag and asked the teller
to deposit the balance of
$249,500 back into her ac-
count.
Moral:- Don't be difficult
with old people, they spent
a lifetime learning the skills.
A BIG-SHOT attorney had to spend a couple of days in the hospital. He was a royal pain to the nurses be-cause he bossed them around just like he did his staff.
None of the hospital staff wanted to have anything
to do with him. The head nurse was the only one who could stand up to
him. She came into his room and announced, "I have to
take your temperature." After complaining for several
minutes, he finally settled down, crossed his arms and
opened his mouth.
"No, I'm sorry," the nurse stated, "but for this reading, I
can't use an oral thermometer." This started another round
of complaining but eventually he rolled over and bared his
behind.
After feeling the nurse insert the thermometer, he heard
her announce, “I have to get something. Now you stay JUST
LIKE THAT until I get back!"
She left the door to his room open on her way out. He
cursed under his breath as he heard people walking past his
door, laughing.....
After about 20 minutes, the man's doctor came into the
room. "What's going on here?" asked the doctor.
Angrily, the man answered, "What's the matter,
Doc? Haven't you ever seen someone having their tempera-
ture taken?"
After a pause, the doctor confessed.....
"Not with a Daffodil."
A CUSTOMER asked, "In what aisle can I find the
Polish sausage?"
The shop assistant asks, "Are you Polish?"
The bloke, clearly offended, says, "Yes I am. But let
me ask you something. If I had asked for Italian sau-
sage, would you ask me if I was Italian? Or if I had
asked for German Bratwurst, would you ask me if I was
German? Or if I asked for a kosher hot dog would you
ask me if I was Jewish? Or if I had asked for a Taco,
would you ask if I was Mexican? Or if I asked for some
whisky, would you ask if I was Irish?"
The shop assistant says, "No, I probably wouldn't."
The bloke says, "Well then,
because I asked for Polish
sausage, why did you ask me
if I'm Polish?"
The shop assistant replied, "Because you're in Bunnings. A JAGUAR mechanic was removing the cylinder head from the engine of an E-Type when he spotted a well-known cardiac surgeon in the garage. The cardiac surgeon was there waiting for the service manager to come and take a look at his car when the me-chanic shouted across the garage, "Hey Doc, want to
take a look at this?" The surgeon, a bit surprised, walked over to where
the mechanic was working. The mechanic straightened up, wiped his hands on
a rag and asked, "So Doc, look at this engine. I opened its heart, took the valves out, repaired or replaced any-thing damaged, and then put everything back in, and, when I finished, it worked just like new. So how is it that I make $80,000 a year and you make $800,000, when you and I are doing basically the same work?"
The cardiac surgeon paused, leaned over and whis-pered to the mechanic, "Try doing it with the engine running."
- Contributions by John Cunnington and Mick Howe.
RICOCHET— Monthly newsletter of Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Sunshine Coast, OCTOBER 2020 20
OUR MISSION: To assist all veterans and their dependents in all matters relating to their health, welfare and well-being.
Answers from page 12
AS we slowly emerge from the effects
of Covid-19 isolation, most of us are
getting to attend more and more func-
tions in small groups.
We trust that as the numbers at-
tending any function could soon be
increased, so the hope is that we can
soon all gather in the numbers that we
once used to.
We have a chance that as Remem-
brance Day approaches, we can all
exercise that right to attend a larger
gathering.
I am excited to return to 'normal'
whatever level of 'normal' that will be,
as I have been invited to participate in
this year's Remembrance Day service
at the Caloundra RSL.
My prayers are that by lowering the
restrictions, the minuscule Covid-19
bug will not take advantage of the situ-
ation and will not re-appear to cause
the untold damage that it has to date.
Let us hold up all those in our
thoughts and prayers who have been
affected, particularly those who have
lost loved ones, not only in our country
but throughout the world.
Our granddaughter in Massachu-
setts had to be tested and quarantined
for two weeks after she visited a friend
whose brother was diagnosed with
this extremely contagious disease.
Fortunately, our Addison's test
proved negative, but she still must be
re-tested at the end of her period of
quarantine.
I guess some of our members as
well as their families have been re-
quired to be tested, having been
warned that they may have been in a
place where a Covid-19 carrier had
been.
I am told the test is not a comforta-
ble procedure. However, the quick
action to detect the virus by such test-
ing methods appears to have worked
well to contain the spread of the little
beastie.
I would encourage you, once re-
strictions are released further, to make
your way to your favourite local church
to offer the appropriate thanks to God
for keeping our nation relatively safe,
compared with the rest of the world.
Talking of church, a 'commercial',
to keep to the social isolation numbers
of persons attending any church ser-
vice, any intending church goer (at
least to the church where Annette and
I attend,) has to book the service time
we intend to attend online. If we do
not make it to the service inside the
Chapel, we attend the overflow in the
Family Centre, where the service is
shown on a large screen.
But do you want to hear the good
news? Each week, the number at-
tending the overflow group is getting
larger! Believe it or not, Co-vid-19 has
brought growth into our churches!
Keep well and avoid that sticky little
offensive Covid-19 bug, and do not
forget to take a silent minute to give
thanks that the pandemic has not hit
Australia like it may have, thanks to
the vigilance of most Australians.
May God bless you and keep you
safe from all harm.
Arthur Fry,
Honorary Chaplain
Fireside
with the
Padre
Trivia Answers
1. 76
2. Spanish Flu
3. Norm
4. Swag
5. 1923
6. 1991
7. 1854
8. Rod Laver (pictured)
9. Rugby Union
10.John Ferris
11. Kelly Gang
12. Southern
13. True
14. Whispering Jack by John Farnham
15. Budgie smugglers.
16. Batmania—named after John Batman who built a settlement on the
17. New Zealand
18. Pluto
19. John Milton
20. Contact lenses
Easy Quiz Answers
1. Daffodil.
2. Cakes.
3. Ginger.
4. Ginger Rogers (pictured)
5. Tin and lead.
6. Belfast
7. The Beatles.
8. Horse racing.
9. Ostia.
10. 21.
11. Sir Francis Drake
12. An irrational fear of insects.
13. Louis Reard.
14. A light sherry.
15 .Cool Hand Luke. - from https://www.rd.com/list/printable-crossword-puzzles
RICOCHET— Monthly newsletter of Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Sunshine Coast, OCTOBER 2020 21
OUR MISSION: To assist all veterans and their dependents in all matters relating to their health, welfare and well-being.
CONTINUING our series on
Australian Memorials for the
Vietnam War: (from left anti-
clockwise) Clarence Valley
Memorial in Grafton, New South
Wales; Geelong North Memorial
in Victoria; 9 Battalion, Royal
Australian Regiment, Roll of
Honour at the National Vietnam
Veterans Museum, Phillip
Island, Victoria; Bathurst and
District Memorial Park; and the
Cavalry Memorial at Tongala,
Victoria.—from https://
monumentaustralia.org.au/
RICOCHET— Monthly newsletter of Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Sunshine Coast, OCTOBER 2020 22
OUR MISSION: To assist all veterans and their dependents in all matters relating to their health, welfare and well-being.
Roll of Honour – Vietnam, month of October 1962-75 ... Lest We Forget
RICOCHET— Monthly newsletter of Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Sunshine Coast, OCTOBER 2020 23
OUR MISSION: To assist all veterans and their dependents in all matters relating to their health, welfare and well-being.
Roll of Honour – Vietnam, month of August 1962-75 ... Lest We Forget
‘At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them …’
Roll of Honour – Vietnam, month of October 1962-75 ... Lest We Forget
Australian War Memorial, Canberra: Iroquois helicopter on display in the Vietnam War gallery (REL/12323)
RICOCHET— Monthly newsletter of Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Sunshine Coast, OCTOBER 2020 24
OUR MISSION: To assist all veterans and their dependents in all matters relating to their health, welfare and well-being.